System and method for promoting and tracking physical activity among a participating group of individuals

ABSTRACT

A system and method of tracking physical activity of a person in order to help motivate that person to add more exercise to their lives. Each participant is provided a motion sensor that detects forces incurred by the participant. The motion sensor creates electronic data that corresponds to the forces detected. The data is analyzed to determine whether or not exercise has been performed. The analysis can also determine the type of exercise performed, when the exercise was performed, and the duration of the exercise performed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

In general, the present invention relates to systems and methods thatare used to track the health and wellbeing of people within a targetedgroup. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems andmethods that utilize interactive software to both promote and trackphysical activity among participants in the targeted group.

2. Prior Art Description

It is a well-established fact that people generally live longer,healthier lives if they exercise regularly. It is also awell-established fact that people are more likely to start and continuean exercise program if they have peers and friends that are alsoparticipating in that exercise program. Recognizing the above statedfacts, many companies have developed employee exercise programs. Thehope is that these programs would lead to healthier employees andhealthier employees would use less sick days and have lower healthcarecosts. By offering exercise such programs at work, it is hoped thatemployees would exercise with peers and would benefit from the supportof peers.

Difficulties develop, however, when the management of a company tries todevelop exercise programs for their employees. The problem is that notall people enjoy the same types of exercise. As such, a company gym mayonly appeal to some employees, while a company softball team may appealto others. Recognizing that different people like different things,exercise programs have been developed that are highly flexible to fitthe varied needs and wants of a company's employees. In such exerciseprograms, the management of a company does not concern itself with whatexercise is being performed. Rather, the company just monitors whetherexercise is being performed and offers incentives to employees tocontinue exercising.

The most common way that companies monitor whether or not an employee isperforming exercise is to provide the employees with interactivecomputer software. Using the software, an employee can enter whatexercise has been performed. This information is then stored in adatabase for access by the company. Such exercise monitoring softwaresystems are exemplified by U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2006/0287883 to Turgis, entitled Interactive Internet Supported HealthAnd Fitness Management System; U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2007/0072154 to Kaufman, entitled Lifesytle Coach Behavior ModificationSystem; and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0100595 toEarles, entitled Behavior Monitoring And Reinforcement System andMethod.

The problem associated with such prior art exercise monitoring softwaresystems is that the systems require that an individual manually inputdata into a computer to inform the computer of what exercise has beenperformed. Since many of these systems provide rewards for exercise,there is a good incentive for people to lie about exercising orexaggerate in order to receive the reward. Furthermore, people quicklygrow tired of tasks in which they are not interested. Employees thatmust voluntarily enter and log their daily exercise routines may quicklydevelop user fatigue. Employees may forget to enter data daily and whenthey do enter data, that data may contain guesses and inaccurateremembrances of days past.

Another problem associated with such prior art exercise systems is thatit is difficult for an employee to equate different exercises with oneanother. For example, how may miles of kayaking equate to how many hoursof playing tennis? This difficulty in equating exercises makes it verydifficult to establish goals for rewards. It also makes it verydifficult to set up challenges and competitions among participants thatwould promote further exercise.

A need therefore exists for an exercise system that both passively andaccurately monitors the amount of exercise performed by an individual,thereby reducing cheating and user fatigue. A need also exists for anexercise system where all exercises are automatically reduced tocomparable caloric expenditure units, thereby enabling all exercises tobe compared for use in challenges and competitions. These needs are metby the present invention as described and claimed below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a system and method of tracking physicalactivity of a person in order to help motivate that person to add moreexercise to their lives. Each participant is provided a motion sensorthat detects forces incurred by the participant. The motion sensorcreates electronic data that corresponds to the forces detected. Themotion detector is worn by the participant at some point on the bodyboth when the participant is exercising and when the participant is notexercising.

The motion sensor has the ability to passively transmit the data itcollects. The data is analyzed. During the analysis of the data, it canbe determined whether or not exercise has been performed. The analysiscan also determine the type of exercise performed, when the exercise wasperformed, and the duration of the exercise performed.

The exercise of each participant can be converted into a preselectedcaloric expenditure unit for a specific type of exercise. In thismanner, the exercise types of all participants can be accuratelycompared and applied to common exercise goals or exercise competitions.If an exercise goal is achieved, participants are rewarded with rewardpoints in an amount proportionate to difficulties in achieving theexercise goal. The reward points can be used as payment for selectedgoods and services that promote a healthy lifestyle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is madeto the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof,considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an office containing the present inventionsystem;

FIG. 2 is a schematic of an exemplary embodiment of a monitoring unit;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a methodology of operation for thepresent invention system;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a methodology of reward in accordancewith the present invention system; and

FIG. 5 is a graph plotting caloric expenditure against time for variousdetected exercises.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the present invention system can be used by many different usergroups, such as schools, health clubs, or a community of registeredonline users, the embodiment illustrated shows the system being used byan employer to promote exercise among its employees. This embodiment isselected in order to set forth the best mode contemplated for theinvention. The illustrated embodiment, however, is merely exemplary andshould not be considered a limitation when interpreting the scope of theappended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, a segment of a traditional office 10 is shown inwhich employees work. The employees have computers 12 that are connectedthrough a network 14 to a remote system computer 16. The network 14 canbe private, but is expected to be connected to the Internet.

Each employee is provided with a monitoring unit 20. The monitoring unit20 is worn on the body of the employee. Preferably, the monitoring unit20 is connected to the shoe 22 of the employee. However, the monitoringunit 20 can also be connected to a sock, watchstrap, belt, or other suchfeature on a limb or waist of the employee. As will later be explainedin more detail, the monitoring unit 20 records data corresponding toforces experienced by the monitoring unit 20 in a given time period. Thedata can be used to determine whether or not exercise has occurred. Thedata can also be used to determine the type of exercise performed andwhen that exercise was performed.

In the office 10, at least one transceiver 24 is installed. Thetransceiver 24 transmits an activation signal 26 that is received by anymonitoring unit 20 within range. Once a monitoring unit 20 receives anactivation signal 26, it transmits its stored data to the transceiver 24along with an identifier code for the employee. The transceiver 24receives both the identifier code and the transmitted data. Thatinformation is then forwarded to the remote system computer 16 via thesame computer network 14.

The downloading of data from the monitoring unit 20 to the systemcomputer 16 happens automatically each time an employee comes into theoffice 10. As such, the data transfer is passive, needing no effort fromthe employee. The employee need only remember to connect the monitoringunit 20 to a shoe or similar article of clothing being worn.

The system computer 16 utilizes the data from each employee to trackwhat exercise has been performed by the employee and when. Many types ofexercise can be identified by the system computer 16 through analysis ofthe type of data that is received. For instance, walking and running areeasily identifiable. Other types of exercise can be identified asexercise, but the specific exercise may not be discernable. Forinstance, the data produced from playing tennis is nearly identical tothe data produced from playing dodge ball. However, dodge ball generallyburns more calories than does tennis.

When an employee logs onto his/her office computer 12, the employee maybe actively prompted with a message that indicates the exercise systemhas received new data. Otherwise, the system may be passive and wait foran employee to log onto the exercise system. Once interacting with theexercise system, the employee can recall data in many formats to showwhen exercise was performed, what exercise was performed, and for howlong. As will later be explained, the data can also be applied toselected exercise challenges and competitions.

If the exercise system has received data that it cannot positivelyidentify, then the employee is prompted to identify the exercise. Theemployee is reminded of when the exercise was performed and for howlong. The employee then is provided with a list of exercises from whichto choose. The employee selects the exercise that best described theactivity performed. The system computer 16 then has a complete set ofdata corresponding to the exercise activities of the employee.

To help motivate the employee, the exercise system 10 presentschallenges and competitions to the employee. The system computer 16 thenapplies all exercise data to those challenges and competitions, in amanner later explained.

Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic of a monitoring unit 20 is shown. Eachmonitoring unit 20 contains at least one accelerometer 28. Theaccelerometers 28 are preferably micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS),however other technologies can be used. The accelerometers 28 measurechanges in acceleration in different orientation planes and convert thatinformation into corresponding electronic signals. Within the monitoringunit 20, a clock 30 is provided. The clock 30 creates a time code signalthat is coupled to each electronic signal produced by the accelerometers28. The combined signals are stored in a memory 32 as data signals.

Each monitoring unit 20 has its own identification code 34 thatidentifies the monitoring unit 20. Each monitoring unit 20 also has areceiver 36 for receiving the activation signal (26, FIG. 1) and atransmitter 38 for transmitting both the data signals and theidentification code 34. Suitable monitoring units 20 that can be adaptedfor use by this invention are manufactured by Fitlinxx, Inc. of Norwalk,Conn.

Referring now to FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIG. 1, the operationalmethodology of the system is described. As is indicated by Block 40,each participating employee is assigned an [account number] user accountfor accessing the system computer 16. Furthermore, each participatingemployees is provided with at least one monitoring unit 20. See Block42. An employee may be given more than one monitoring unit 20. In thismanner, the employee can attach a monitoring unit 20 to each of the setsof shoes he/she commonly wears. Within the system computer 16, theidentification code 34 for each monitoring unit 20 given to an employeeis assigned to the account for that employee.

Once an employee has set up an account, the employee is provided with achoice of exercise challenges from which to choose. See Block 44. Forinstance, one challenge may be a virtual hike. An employee, using theirnetwork computer 12, may select a geographical area, such asPennsylvania, France, Kenya, or the like. The systems computer 16 willthen generate a virtual hiking tour. The systems computer 16 will thenindicate how many steps are required to complete the virtual tour. Forexample, it may be 456,789 steps. The challenge, then, becomes for theemployee to walk 456,789 steps. Each time the employee downloads data tothe system computer 16, the data is converted to steps, if necessary,and applied to the challenge. The systems computer 16 may providedifferent images of different landmarks in the selected geographicalarea as data is applied to the challenge.

Other challenges may also be provided. For example, one employee mayenter into direct competition with other employees to complete a statedamount of exercise in a stated amount of time.

Rewards may be provided to people who accomplish or win challenges. Thenature of the rewards is later described in conjunction with FIG. 4.

As is indicated by Block 46, once an employee is entered into achallenge, the employee is left alone to live his/her life. It is hopedthat the presence of the challenge and a potential reward or completingthe challenge will entice the employee to exercise wherever and wheneverthey can. For instance, an employee may park farther away from work inorder to walk a little more. The employee may take the stairs instead ofthe elevator. All of these little exercises are automatically recordedand are applied toward the employees challenge.

The exercise data generated by an employee is stored until the employeetransfers data to the system computer 16. This can be done automaticallyby having the employee come within range of an office transceiver 24. Ifan employee works at home or otherwise rarely visits the office, thenthat employee can be provided with a personal transceiver for their homecomputer. The personal transceiver serves the same purpose and functionsas the office transceiver 24, but is adapted for use with a homecomputer system. Alternatively, the monitoring unit 20 may bemanufactured with a connection port. If so configured, an employee canconnect the monitoring unit 20 directly to a computer at their home oroffice, using a standard USB connection cable.

Once the exercise data is downloaded, the data is analyzed by the systemcomputer 16. See Block 48. First, the data is identified according tothe types of exercise preformed the data. Different exercises producedifferent types of data. Since the monitoring unit 20 containsaccelerometers, the data gathered is analog in nature. Walking producesspecific signals within the accelerometers at repeating intervals. Awalking signal is straightforward to identify. Running creates greateraccelerometer signals at faster intervals and is easy to identify. Thesignal profiles of numerous exercises are known. For instance, thesignals generated by bicycle riding, swimming, and climbing stairs arereadily identified. However, the signals generated by some otherexercises can be identified as exercise, but cannot be preciselyidentified as to the type of exercise. For example, tennis and dodgeball create nearly identical signals from a monitor unit 20 worn on thefoot.

As is indicated by Block 50 and Block 52, when a signal containsexercise data that cannot be specifically identified, the systemcomputer 16 prompts the employee the next time the user logs onto thesystem. In the prompt, the employee is provided with a choice ofexercises from which to choose. The employee is reminded of when theexercise occurred and for how long the exercise lasted. The user thenselects the exercise that best fits the exercise that was recorded.

In some circumstances, the monitoring unit 20 may fail to recognize someexercise that has occurred. For instance, if an employee is wearing themonitoring unit on their foot and then goes canoeing, the monitoringunit 20 many not record any exercise even though strenuous exercise isoccurring. In such situations, an employee does have the option ofmanually entering a specific exercise for a specific period of time.However, the exercise selected cannot be contrary to the data signalsreceived for that period. If the selected exercise does not match thedata signal, it may be assumed that the employee is lying orexaggerating and the data signal may be ignored by the system computer16.

Once the system computer 16 has all the exercise data for a specificperiod of time, the system computer 16 converts the exercise data tothat of the challenge exercise. See Block 54. The challenge exercise isthe exercise selected by the employee when initially selecting achallenge, as indicated back in Block 44. For instance, if the selectedchallenge is a virtual hike, as has been previously suggested, then allexercise data is converted into walking steps. However, if the selectedchallenge were a virtual marathon, then all exercise data is convertedinto running steps. Conversion is conducted by a determination ofcaloric expenditure equivalency. For example, if the selected challengeexercise is walking and walking is assigned a caloric expenditure of 250calories per mile, then swimming for fifteen minutes is converted to onemile of walking. This is because swimming for fifteen minutes also burns250 calories, which is a caloric equivalent of one mile.

Once all the exercise data is converted into its challenge exerciseequivalent, then the data is applied to the selected challenge. SeeBlock 56. Accordingly, an employee who rides a bicycle to work and playsbasketball, may quickly complete a walking challenge without everintentionally walking for exercise.

By converting all recorded exercise data into its challenge exerciseequivalency, all employees can compete toward the same goal even thoughthey exercise in different ways. Also, various employees can competedirectly with each other, even though each employee exercises in adifferent way.

Referring to FIG. 4, the rewards portion of the method of operation canbe outlined. As has been previously stated, an employee selects achallenge in which to participate. An employer may elect to providerewards to the employee if the challenge is met. The rewards may befinancial or work related, such as an extra vacation day. However, aunique rewards program is preferred.

As is indicated by Block 60 and Block 62, if an employee successfullycompletes an exercise challenge, then the employee is assigned a numberof virtual reward points to his/her account. The number of reward pointsto be granted is directly dependent upon the difficulty of the exercisechallenge that has been completed.

The administrator of the present invention system may enter intocontracts with a variety of health promoting venues. The venues mayinclude health clubs, sports clubs, sports equipment retails, vitaminretails, and the like. In these contracts, the venue companies agree toaccept the virtual points awarded employees in exchange for somepredetermined compensation. A list of participating companies isprovided to each employee. See Block 64. The employee can then spendhis/her reward points by buying the goods or services from the variousparticipating companies. See Block 66.

By restricting the venues in which the reward points can be spent, eachemployee is provided a significant but limited choice. However, all thechoices are beneficial to the health and well-being of the employee. Itis therefore hoped that an employee's exercise will beself-perpetuating. That is, an employee earns reward points byexercising in a gym and the reward points help pay for membership inthat gym. Otherwise, an employee earns reward points by playing a sportand the reward points pay for the equipment used to play that sport.

After an employee uses the present invention system for a period oftime, a great deal of information is gathered concerning when and how aparticular employee exercises. This information is formatted andprovided to the employee for the benefit of the employee. Referring toFIG. 5, a graph 70 is shown that shows activities plotted by time andcalories burned during the course of one day. The graph 70 shows onlyone of many ways the data can be formatted. However, when formatted asillustrated, an employee can see when they are exercising the most andwhen they are exercising the least. This may encourage employees to takethe stairs or otherwise do some exercise during non-traditional hours.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the present invention thatis illustrated and described is merely exemplary and that a personskilled in the art can make many variations to that embodiments. Allsuch embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of thepresent invention as defined by the claims.

1. A method of tracking physical activity of a plurality of people,comprising the steps of: providing a systems computer that is accessiblethrough a computer network; providing at least one access computer thatcan communicate with said systems computer via said computer network,wherein said at least one access computer is accessible by saidplurality of people; providing a transceiver at a location frequented bysaid plurality of people, wherein said transceiver communicates withsaid systems computer over said network, and wherein said transceivertransmits an activation signal through a predetermined range within saidlocation; providing each of said plurality of people with a uniqueidentifier code and a motion monitoring unit capable of transmittingsaid identifier code, wherein each said motion monitoring unit sensesmotion from physical activities and creates electronic datacorresponding to said motion; wherein for each of said plurality ofpeople, said motion monitoring unit automatically, needing no effortfrom said plurality of people, transmits said data and said identifiercode to said systems computer through said transceiver and said networkwhen said motion monitoring unit comes within said predetermined rangeof said transceiver and receives said activation signal; and analyzingsaid data at said systems computer to identify types of physicalactivities sensed and duration periods for each of said physicalactivities for each of said plurality of people.
 2. The method accordingto claim 1, further including the step of maintaining a database at saidsystems computer that is accessible through said at least one accesscomputer, wherein said database is periodically updated with said data.3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said database displays saidtypes of physical activities sensed and said duration periods.
 4. Themethod according to claim 1, further including the step of selecting atype of physical activity from a selection of possible physicalactivities should said type of physical activity fail to be identifiedby said systems computer.
 5. The method according claim 1, wherein saidstep of providing a motion monitoring unit includes providing a motionmonitoring unit that contains at least one accelerometer for measuringchanges in acceleration in at least one plane.
 6. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein said step of analyzing said data includes trackingwhen each of said types of physical activities occurred.
 7. The methodaccording to claim 1, further including the step of having each of saidplurality of people select a challenge exercise and a goal for saidchallenge exercise.
 8. The method according to claim 7, furtherincluding the step of converting each of said types of Physicalactivities into a caloric equivalent amount of said challenge exercise.9. The method according to claim 8, further including the step ofapplying said caloric equivalent amount of said challenge exercisetoward said goal for said challenge exercise.
 10. The method accordingto claim 7, further including the step of providing a reward if saidgoal is accomplished.
 11. A method of tracking the physical activity ofa person, comprising the steps of: providing a systems computer that isaccessible through a computer network; providing a transceiver remotefrom said person at a location frequented by said person, wherein saidtransceiver communicates with said systems computer over said network,and wherein said transceiver transmits an activation signal through apredetermined range within said location; coupling at least onemonitoring unit to said person that detects acceleration forcesexperienced by said person and creates data corresponding to saidacceleration forces; having said motion monitoring unit automatically,needing no effort from said plurality of people, transmits said data tosaid processing unit through said transceiver and said network when saidmonitoring unit comes within said predetermined range of saidtransceiver and receives said activation signal; analyzing said datawithin said systems computer to determine what types of physicalactivities have been experienced by said person and how long each ofsaid physical activities lasted.
 12. The method according to claim 11,further including the step of having said person select a type ofphysical activity from a selection of possible physical activitiesshould a type of physical activity fail to be determined by said systemscomputer.
 13. The method according to claim 12, further including thestep of converting all said types of physical activities into a singletype of physical activity by caloric expenditure equivalency.
 14. Themethod according to claim 10, wherein said step of providing a rewardfurther includes contracting with a target group of companies, whereineach of said companies provides exercise related goods and services;providing said person with reward points in an amount proportional todifficulties in achieving said goal; enabling said reward points to beused as payment for said exercise related goods and services provided bysaid target group of companies.
 15. The method according to claim 14,further including the step of monitoring said person to determine whensaid person has achieved said goal.